Connecticut HB 5264: AN ACT CONCERNING SERVICE ANIMALS IN INSURANCE UNDERWRITING, THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ADVOCATE IN PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THE WELFARE OR CUSTODY OF COMPANION ANIMALS, ASSAULT OF A DOMESTIC ANIMAL AND ESTABLISHING AN ANIMAL ABUSE TASK FORCE.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5264
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING SERVICE ANIMALS IN INSURANCE
UNDERWRITING, THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ADVOCATE IN
PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THE WELFARE OR CUSTODY OF
COMPANION ANIMALS, ASSAULT OF A DOMESTIC ANIMAL AND
ESTABLISHING AN ANIMAL ABUSE TASK FORCE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) No insurer that delivers, 1
issues for delivery, renews, amends or endorses a homeowners or 2
tenants insurance policy in this state on or after October 1, 2026, shall 3
cancel, refuse to renew or refuse to issue such policy solely on the basis 4
of the breed of dog owned by the insured or the applicant, with respect 5
to any dog that is a dog trained or being trained as a service animal to 6
assist blind, deaf or mobility impaired persons. As used in this section, 7
"service animal" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-345 of 8
the general statutes. 9
Sec. 2. Section 54-86n of the general statutes is repealed and the 10
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 11
(a) For the purposes of this section, "companion animal" means a 12
domesticated dog, cat, horse, rabbit, ferret, bird, rodent, fish, reptile, 13
amphibian or other species of animal kept for pleasure rather than 14
utility and that is normally kept in or near the household of its owner or 15
keeper and is dependent on a person for food, shelter and veterinary 16

Substitute Bill No. 5264

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care, but does not include a dog, cat, horse, rabbit, ferret, bird, rodent, 17
fish, reptile, amphibian or other species of animal kept for farming or 18
biomedical research practices. 19
[(a)] (b) In any prosecution under section 53-247, as amended by this 20
act, or in any court proceeding pursuant to section 22-329a or in the 21
criminal session of the Superior Court regarding the welfare or custody 22
of a [cat or dog] companion animal, the court may order, upon its own 23
initiative or upon request of a party or counsel for a party, that a 24
separate advocate be appointed to represent the interests of justice. If a 25
court orders that an advocate be appointed to represent the interests of 26
justice, the court shall appoint such advocate from a list provided to the 27
court by the Commissioner of Agriculture pursuant to subsection [(c)] 28
(d) of this section. A decision by the court denying a request to appoint 29
a separate advocate to represent the interests of justice shall not be 30
subject to appeal. 31
[(b)] (c) The advocate may: (1) Monitor the case; (2) consult any 32
individual with information that could aid the judge or fact finder and 33
review records relating to the condition of the [cat or dog] companion 34
animal and the defendant's actions, including, but not limited to, 35
records from animal control officers, veterinarians and police officers; 36
(3) attend hearings; and (4) present information or recommendations to 37
the court pertinent to determinations that relate to the interests of 38
justice, provided such information and recommendations shall be based 39
solely upon the duties undertaken pursuant to this subsection. 40
[(c)] (d) The Department of Agriculture shall maintain a list of 41
attorneys with knowledge of animal issues and the legal system and a 42
list of law schools that have students, or anticipate having students, with 43
an interest in animal issues and the legal system. Such attorneys and law 44
students shall be eligible to serve on a voluntary basis as advocates 45
under this section. The provisions of sections 3-14 to 3-21, inclusive, of 46
the Connecticut Practice Book shall govern a law student's participation 47
as an advocate under this section. 48

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Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 53-247 of the general statutes is 49
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 50
1, 2026): 51
(a) Any person who overdrives, drives when overloaded, overworks, 52
tortures, deprives of necessary sustenance, mutilates or cruelly beats or 53
kills or unjustifiably injures any animal, or who, having impounded or 54
confined any animal, fails to give such animal proper care or neglects to 55
cage or restrain any such animal from doing injury to itself or to another 56
animal or fails to supply any such animal with wholesome air, food and 57
water, or unjustifiably administers any poisonous or noxious drug or 58
substance to any domestic animal or unjustifiably exposes any such 59
drug or substance, with intent that the same shall be taken by an animal, 60
or causes it to be done, or, having charge or custody of any animal, 61
inflicts cruelty upon it or fails to provide it with proper food, drink or 62
protection from the weather or abandons it or carries it or causes it to be 63
carried in a cruel manner, or fights with or baits, harasses or worries any 64
animal for the p